Jammu & Kashmir Administrative Services (JKPSC)

• 18 Nov 2024

Drive Launched to Curb Child Labour

Why in News?

Recently, the administration in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district has intensified efforts to combat child labor and begging while taking measures to address the challenges faced by children living on the streets.

Key Points

• According to the officials, collective efforts are essential to eradicate child exploitation and create a safer environment for children.
• Authorities urged citizens to stay vigilant and report any instances of child exploitation or violations.
• Anti-Beggary Drive in Katra:
  • A joint ‘Anti-Beggary and Children in Street Situations’ drive was conducted in Katra by the Child Helpline, in partnership with the Police and Health Departments.
  • During the drive, 11 children forced into beggary were rescued.
• Ongoing Rescue Initiatives:
  • The Social Welfare Department will continue similar drives across the district.
  • The objective is to rescue children from exploitation and ensure they lead a dignified life.

Child Labour in India

• According to the last available Census 2011, there were 10.1 million child labourers in India.
• India’s biggest child labour employers states are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
• Constitutional Provisions:
  • The Article 23 of the Indian Constitution prohibits human trafficking and begar (forced labour without payment) to protect the millions of underprivileged and deprived people of the country.
    • The right is available to citizens of India as well as to non-citizens.
    • The right provides against human trafficking in the form of:
      • Selling and buying of men, women and children.
      • Prostitution
      • Devadasis
      • Slavery.
  • The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 has been enacted to deal with violations of this fundamental right.
  • Article 24 of the Indian Constitution forbids employment of children below the age of 14 years in hazardous work like factories and mines.
    • However, it did not prohibit their employment in any harmless or innocent work.
    • The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 (renamed as Child & Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 in 2016) specifically deals with the violations related to Prohibition of employment of children (below the age fourteen years) in factories, etc.
      • The 2016 amendment of this act completely prohibited employment of children below 14 years of age in all occupations and processes.
      • It also prohibited the employment of adolescents (14-18 years of age) in hazardous occupations or processes.
  • Articles 39 states that, the State shall in particular, direct its policies towards securing:
    • Right to an adequate means of livelihood to all the citizens.
    • The ownership and control of material resources shall be organised in a manner to serve the common good.
    • The State shall avoid concentration of wealth in a few hands.
    • Equal pay for equal work for both men and women.
    • The protection of the strength and health of the workers.
    • Childhood and youth shall not be exploited.

Delay Arrival of Migratory Birds in Kashmir Valley

Why in News?

Due to less rainfall in the Kashmir Valley, the wetlands are left severely dry adversely affecting the arrival of migratory birds.

Key Points

• Decline in Migratory Birds:
  • Each year, by late September or October, lakhs of migratory birds from Siberia, China, Central Asia, and Northern Europe migrate to the Kashmir Valley’s wetlands, with Hokersar Wetland being the most significant site.
  • In 2024, it noted a sharp decline in bird arrivals compared to previous years.
• Factors Contributing to Fewer Birds:
  • Experts attribute the decline to global warming, with prolonged summers delaying the onset of winter, resulting in a 10-15 day delay in bird arrivals.
  • Reduced rainfall and dry wetlands have worsened the situation, contributing to fewer birds this November. However, experts expect numbers to rise as weather conditions improve.
• Shrinking Wetlands and Habitat Loss:
  • Experts have raised concerns about the shrinking Hokersar wetland, also known as the 'Queen of Wetlands.'
    • From 1969 to 2008, the wetland’s area reduced from 18.75 sq km to 13 sq km, with a loss of 150 hectares of marshy land within it.
• Future Threat to Migratory Birds:
  • Without proper action to restore and protect these wetlands, the future of both the habitats and the migratory birds that depend on them remains uncertain.

Hokersar Wetland

• Location:
  • The Hokersar wetland, a Ramsar site, is situated in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. It is also known as the ‘Queen Wetland of Kashmir’.
• Geographic Setting:
  • It is a natural, perennial wetland that is part of the Jhelum basin and is located in the northwest Himalayan biogeographic province of Kashmir, at the foot of the snow-draped Pir Panchal range.
• Water Source:
  • The wetland receives water from the Doodhganga River, a tributary of the Jhelum.
• Flora and Fauna:
  • It is home to the last remaining reedbeds of Kashmir and serves as a critical pathway for 68 waterfowl species.
  • These birds, migrating from regions like Siberia, China, Central Asia, and Europe, include species such as the little cormorant, common shelduck, large egret, and great crested grebe.
  • The wetland is vital for local biodiversity, offering food sources, spawning grounds, and nurseries for fish, along with breeding habitats for various species.